LatAm's Biggest Airlines

As travel returns worldwide, we were curious to learn about the Air Transportation industry in Latin America and wondered who are its most prominent players. The region’s airline market is one of the fastest-growing in terms of passenger traffic. Before the pandemic, estimations said that the area would double its aircraft fleet by 2040.

With subsidiaries in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru, LATAM Airlines is Latin America’s biggest airline group. The airline was created through a merger between Chile’s LAN and Brazil’s TAM in 2012. LATAM Airlines has the most extensive network in the region, flying to over 140 destinations in 25 countries with a fleet of over 300 aircraft, offering more than 1,200 daily flights. In 2020, Delta acquired a 20% stake in the company; Qatar Airways also owns a 10% stake.

Brazil’s GOL and Azul Airlines started operations in 2000 and 2008. Even though they are competitors, both airlines have seen their passenger traffic quickly increase. They’ve become the largest domestic and among the top 3 most significant airlines in Latin America.

A similar competition is playing out between VivaAerobus and Volaris. Through ingenious marketing tactics — for example, VivaAerobus launched the “Spurs Force One” aircraft in a partnership with the San Antonio Spurs — both companies have grown in Mexico’s market since they launched in 2006 and joined LatAm’s top 10. On the other hand, Colombia’s Avianca, founded in 1919, is the oldest airline in the subcontinent to stay relevant after a century.